A multi-study examination of the relevance of the metacognitive beliefs about uncontrollability in emotion regulation and clinical symptoms

Transdiagnostic approaches to psychopathology have postulated that factors related to perceived control are particularly relevant to mental health. Here we focused on a specific perceived control-related construct: metacognitive beliefs about uncontrollability. Evidence suggests that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs play a role in the activation and maintenance of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and emotional distress. Metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry are the most strongly associated with psychopathology. In this multi-study research, we hypothesized that metacognitive beliefs about uncontrollability make a specific contribution to emotion regulation strategies and clinical symptoms. We tested our hypotheses in four different studies, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally (N = 2224). Participants completed measures of metacognitive beliefs, maladaptive strategies (e.g., worry, thought suppression), and clinical symptoms (e.g., generalized anxiety, emotional distress, depressive and anxiety symptoms). Our results showed that uncontrollability beliefs were the strongest variable associated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and clinical symptoms (cross-sectionally), and the only ones that predicted them in the long term. We discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of these results in the light of the metacognitive model and control-related theories.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBU

Development and validation of the Strategic Test of Emotional Intelligence (STEI) in the Spanish population

Introduction and objectives Currently, the assessment of emotional intelligence (EI) ability using performance measures is somewhat limited. Our study thus describes the development and validation of a new performance measure, known as the Strategic Test of Emotional Intelligence (STEI), to assess EI abilities in Spanish samples based on the Mayer and Salovey (1997) model and Situational Judgment Test paradigm. Materials and method Spanish undergraduate students and community participants (N = 504; 64.7% females aged 18–67 years) completed the STEI (consisting of 110 items, 55 of which correspond to the understanding emotions factor and 55 to the managing emotions factor). Different subgroups also completed measures of EI, empathy, personality, and general intelligence. Results The findings indicate appropriate reliability and convergent and discriminant validity with respect to EI, empathy, personality, and intelligence measures. Further, confirmatory factor analysis supported the existence of a two-factor structure composed of the understanding and managing emotions subscales. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were adequate (.82 understanding emotions, .85 managing emotions, and .90 total STEI). Conclusions The STEI could be a promising new measure for assessing EI in Spanish samples, providing a novel tool for researching the construct and enabling the comparison with previous results found in other cultures.Introducción y objetivos En la actualidad, la evaluación de la capacidad de inteligencia emocional (IE) que utiliza medidas de rendimiento es algo limitada. Nuestro estudio describe el desarrollo y la validación de una nueva medida de rendimiento, conocida como Test Estratégico de Inteligencia Emocional (STEI), para evaluar las habilidades de IE en muestras españolas basada en el modelo de Mayer y Salovey (1997) y en el paradigma de Prueba de Juicio Situacional. Materiales y método Estudiantes universitarios, así como muestra de población general (n = 504; 64.7% mujeres; rango de edad de 18 a 67 años) de España completaron el STEI (con un total de 110 ítems, 55 pertenecientes al factor comprensión y 55 al factor manejo de las emociones). Diferentes subgrupos también completaron medidas de IE, empatía, personalidad e inteligencia general. Resultados Los resultados indican una fiabilidad apropiada y una validez convergente y discriminante con respecto a las medidas de IE, empatía, personalidad e inteligencia. Además, el análisis factorial confirmatorio apoyó la existencia de una estructura de dos factores compuesta por las subescalas de comprensión y manejo de las emociones. Los coeficientes alfa de Cronbach fueron adecuados (.82 comprensión emociones, .85 manejo emociones y .90 STEI total). Conclusiones El STEI podría ser una medida nueva y prometedora para evaluar la IE en muestras españolas, proporcionando una herramienta novedosa para investigar el constructo y poder comparar los resultados con los encontrados previamente en otras culturas

Improved Photocatalytic H2 Evolution by Cobaloxime-Tethered Imidazole-Functionalized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

Molecular cobaloxime-based heterogeneous systems have attracted great interest during the last decades in light-driven hydrogen production. Here, we present a novel cobaloxime-tethered periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) hybrid (Im-EtPMO-Co) prepared through the immobilization of a molecular cobaloxime complex on the imidazole groups present in ethylene-bridged PMO. The successful assembly of a molecular cobaloxime catalyst via cobalt-imidazole axial ligation has been evidenced by several techniques, such as 13C NMR, Raman spectroscopy, ICP-MS, and XPS. The catalytic performance of Im-EtPMO-Co catalyst was essayed on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under visible light in presence of a photosensitizer (Eosin Y) and an electron donor (TEOA). It showed an excellent hydrogen production of 95 mmol hydrogen at 2.5 h, which corresponded to a TON of 138. These results reflect an improved photocatalytic activity with respect to its homogenous counterpart [Co(dmgH)2(Im)Cl] as well as a previous cobaloxime-PMO system with pyridine axial ligation to the cobaloxime complex

Emotional intelligence and psychological and social adjustment in adolescence: The role of emotional perception.

Resumen: La inteligencia emocional (IE), definida como la habilidad para percibir, usar, comprender y regular las emociones, se ha mostrado como una variable importante a la hora de explicar el ajuste psicosocial de las personas. Pese a ello, la mayor parte de la investigación en torno a la IE ha sido realizada con muestras de población adulta y son escasos los trabajos que, utilizando medidas de ejecución, exploren su papel en la adolescencia. El objetivo del presente estudio fue el de analizar la influencia de la percepción emocional, una de las habilidades recogidas dentro de la IE, sobre el ajuste personal y social de una muestra de adolescentes españoles. Un total de 255 alumnos completaron una tarea de ejecución diseñada para evaluar la percepción emocional en la adolescencia así como diferentes medidas de ajuste social y personal. Los resultados de los análisis de correlación y regresión mostraron cómo los adolescentes con una mayor habilidad para reconocer los estados emocionales de los demás informaron de mejores relaciones sociales con iguales y padres, menor tensión en sus relaciones sociales, así como de un mayor nivel de confianza y competencia percibida. Además, estos resultados se mantuvieron tras controlar los efectos de la edad, el sexo y la personalidad. Se discuten los resultados en el contexto de la investigación sobre la inteligencia emocional y se proponen implicaciones prácticas para el diseño de programas de prevención y tratamiento.Abstract: Emotional intelligence (IE), defined as the ability to perceive, use, understand and regulate emotions, has shown a positive influence on the people´s psychological and social adjustment in the specialized literature. However, most of the work has been carried out with adult samples and few investigations have examined this issue with adolescent population. The aim of this paper was to analyze the influence of emotional perception, an ability of EI, on the adolescent´s personal and social adjustment. A sample of 255 Spanish adolescents completed a maximum performance test of emotional perception and different scales measuring personal and social adjustment. Results of correlation and regression analyses showed that adolescents with higher ability to perceive emotions reported having better relationships with peers and parents, lower social stress, higher self-confidence and higher perceived competence. Moreover, emotional perception significantly predicted adolescents? adjustment even when the effects of sex, age, and personality were controlled for. The findings suggest that emotional intelligence is a promising predictor of adolescent adjustment and may serve as a useful resource for preventive and treatment interventions

A Novel NFIX-STAT6 Gene Fusion in Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report

Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare subtype of soft-tissue sarcoma with a wide spectrum of histopathological features and clinical behaviors, ranging from mildly to highly aggressive tumors. The defining genetic driver alteration is the gene fusion NAB2–STAT6, resulting from a paracentric inversion within chromosome 12q, and involving several different exons in each gene. STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) nuclear immunostaining and/or the identification of NAB2–STAT6 gene fusion is required for the diagnostic confirmation of solitary fibrous tumor. In the present study, a new gene fusion consisting of Nuclear Factor I X (NFIX), mapping to 19p13.2 and STAT6, mapping to 12q13.3 was identified by targeted RNA-Seq in a 74-year-old female patient diagnosed with a deep-seated solitary fibrous tumor in the pelvis. Histopathologically, the neoplasm did not display nuclear pleomorphism or tumor necrosis and had a low proliferative index. A total of 378 unique reads spanning the NFIXexon8–STAT6exon2 breakpoint with 55 different start sites were detected in the bioinformatic analysis, which represented 59.5% of the reads intersecting the genomic location on either side of the breakpoint. Targeted RNA-Seq results were validated by RT-PCR/ Sanger sequencing. The identification of a new gene fusion partner for STAT6 in solitary fibrous tumor opens intriguing new hypotheses to refine the role of STAT6 in the sarcomatogenesis of this entity

Newborn Screening for Primary T- and B-Cell Immune Deficiencies—A Prospective Study in Andalucía

Background: Quantification of T-cell-receptor-excision circles (TRECs) and kappa-deleting-recombination-excision circles (KRECs) from dried blood spots (DBS) allows detection of neonates with severe T-cell and/or B-cell lymphopenia that are potentially affected by severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), as well as X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Methods: Determination of TRECs and KRECs using a triplex RT-PCR (TRECS-KRECS-β-actin) assay from prospectively collected DBS between February 2014 and December 2016 in three hospitals in Seville, Spain. Cut-off levels were TRECs 700/punch. Internal (SCID, XLA, ataxia telangiectasia) and external controls (CDC) were included. Results: A total of 8943 DBS samples obtained from 8814 neonates were analysed. Re-punching was necessary in 124 samples (1.4%) due to insufficient β-actin values (<700 copies/punch). Preterm neonates (GA < 37 weeks) and neonates with a BW < 2500 g showed significantly lower TRECs and KRECs levels (p < 0.001). Due to repeated pathological results, ten neonates were re-sampled (0.11%), of which five neonates (0.055%) confirmed the pathological results: one case was a fatal chromosomopathy (TRECs 1/KRECs 4); two were extreme premature newborns (TRECs 0/KRECs 0 and TRECs 1/KRECs 20 copies/punch); and 2 neonates were born to mothers receiving azathioprine during pregnancy (TRECs 92/KRECs 1 and TRECs 154/KRECs 3 copies/punch). All controls were correctly identified. Conclusions: Severe T- and B-cell lymphopenias were correctly identified by the TRECS-KRECS-β-actin assay. Prematurity and low BW are associated with lower TREC and KREC levels. Extreme prematurity and maternal immune suppressive therapy can cause false positive results of TRECs and KRECs values.Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI13/01104Ayudas para contratos de formación en Investigación Rio Hortega. Instituto de Salud Carlos II

Enhancing dna immunization by targeting asfv antigens to sla-ii bearing cells

One of the main criticisms to DNA vaccines is the poor immunogenicity that they confer on occasions, at least in large animals. Confirming this theory, immunization with plasmid DNA encoding two African swine fever virus genes in frame (pCMV-PQ), failed in inducing detectable immune responses in pigs, while it was successful in mice. Aiming to improve the immune responses induced in swine, a new plasmid was constructed, encoding the viral genes fused in frame with a single chain variable fragment of an antibody specific for a swine leukocyte antigen II (pCMV-APCH1PQ). Our results clearly demonstrate that targeting antigens to antigen professional cells exponentially enhanced the immune response induced in pigs, albeit that the DNA vaccine was not able to confer protection against lethal viral challenge. Indeed, a viremia exacerbation was observed in each of the pigs that received the pCMV-APCH1PQ plasmid, this correlating with the presence of non-neutralizing antibodies and antigen-specific SLA II-restricted T-cells. The implications of our discoveries for the development of future vaccines against African swine fever virus and other swine pathogens are discussed.Fil: Argilaguet, J. M.. No especifíca;Fil: Pérez Martín, E.. No especifíca;Fil: Gallardo, C.. No especifíca;Fil: Salguero, F. J.. No especifíca;Fil: Borrego, B.. No especifíca;Fil: Lacasta, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Accensi, F.. No especifíca;Fil: Díaz, I.. No especifíca;Fil: Nofrarías, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Pujols, J.. No especifíca;Fil: Blanco, E.. No especifíca;Fil: Pérez Filgueira, Daniel Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Escribano, José M.. No especifíca;Fil: Rodríguez, F.. No especifíca

Agentes y lazos sociales: la experiencia de volverse comunidad

En la colonia Lomas de Polanco, al sur de la ciudad de Guadalajara, México, entre 1970 y 1990 se generó un movimiento ciudadano, enraizado en las Comunidades Eclesiales de Base y la educación popular, que emprendió una lucha exitosa para conseguir los servicios de infraestructura urbana ante las promesas incumplidas de autoridades y fraccionadores. La confluencia de actores, individuales y colectivos, de distintos contextos, contribuyeron a la reconstitución del tejido social y la creación de los lazos que dieron sentido de comunidad a los colonos y al desarrollo de su capacidad de agencia para la trasformación positiva de su entorno y de su vida. Esta experiencia se recupera en esta obra, a partir de una serie de entrevistas con los actores del movimiento, mediante un análisis retrospectivo y desde varias perspectivas teóricas. Su estudio permite comprender mejor las dinámicas sociales acontecidas y posibilita su reproducción para enfrentar de manera organizada y con éxito problemas en contextos urbanos y sociales particulares.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaGobierno del Estado de Jalisc

Retinal Molecular Changes Are Associated with Neuroinflammation and Loss of RGCs in an Experimental Model of Glaucoma

Signaling mediated by cytokines and chemokines is involved in glaucoma-associated neuroinflammation and in the damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Using multiplexed immunoassay and immunohistochemical techniques in a glaucoma mouse model at different time points after ocular hypertension (OHT), we analyzed (i) the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, BDNF, VEGF, and fractalkine; and (ii) the number of Brn3a+ RGCs. In OHT eyes, there was an upregulation of (i) IFN-γ at days 3, 5, and 15; (ii) IL-4 at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and IL-10 at days 3 and 5 (coinciding with downregulation of IL1-β at days 1, 5, and 7); (iii) IL-6 at days 1, 3, and 5; (iv) fractalkine and VEGF at day 1; and (v) BDNF at days 1, 3, 7, and 15. In contralateral eyes, there were (i) an upregulation of IL-1β at days 1 and 3 and a downregulation at day 7, coinciding with the downregulation of IL4 at days 3 and 5 and the upregulation at day 7; (ii) an upregulation of IL-6 at days 1, 5, and 7 and a downregulation at 15 days; (iii) an upregulation of IL-10 at days 3 and 7; and (iv) an upregulation of IL-17 at day 15. In OHT eyes, there was a reduction in the Brn3a+ RGCs number at days 3, 5, 7, and 15. OHT changes cytokine levels in both OHT and contralateral eyes at different time points after OHT induction, confirming the immune system involvement in glaucomatous neurodegeneration

Ética de la investigación en ciencias sociales. El problematorio de ética, un recurso pedagógico para los dilemas de la investigación contemporánea

Depto. de Antropología Social y Psicología SocialFac. de Ciencias Políticas y SociologíaFALSEsubmitte